#BeautyStandards

A new look at attraction suggests that women notice three facial features first when judging a man’s appearance: the lips, jawline, and cheekbones. Decades of social psychology research underpin this finding, which has been covered in modern media that translate science for general audiences.

For Thai readers, these findings offer a lens on how beauty ideas travel across cultures. Thai notions of attractiveness traditionally emphasize facial harmony and clear skin, while contemporary trends often celebrate sharp jawlines and defined cheekbones in public figures and everyday style icons. The research connects global science with local conversations about what is valued in appearance and impression management.

In a fascinating turn for relationship sciences, new research has shed light on the specific facial features women notice first when evaluating a man’s attractiveness. Contrary to the prevailing idea that broad general impressions or stereotypically “obvious” features dominate initial attraction, evidence now points overwhelmingly to three key facial characteristics: the lips, jawline, and cheekbones. This revelation comes from a 2009 study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology and has been widely discussed in contemporary media, including recent analysis by YourTango and ScienceDaily (YourTango; ScienceDaily).